On the third day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival temperatures dropped as the first weekend wrapped up. Escape Velocity by Poetic Kinetics stands between squared by Charlie Gadekan after sunset on Sunday. (Sean M. Haffey)

Coachella may be the carefree escape from reality you've been looking for, but there are a few key pieces of advice to keep in mind during your escapades. Here are 15 tips to help you survive Coachella 2015. 1 - Meet H2O, your new best friend. Hydration will be key to survival in desert conditions, especially when you're spending long days and nights with your other friend, booze. You can bring an empty bottle (as long as it's not metal) into the festival and fill it up at one of the 16 fountains around the venue. There will also be bottled water sold for $2 at various locations. 2 - Rent a locker. Medium backpacks are allowed into the festival (more on what to fill it with below). You can store your bag - along with any sweaters or pants for the cold desert nights - in these lockers conveniently located on the grounds, priced $54-$79 for three days. Claim yours in advance at lockersonline.com. 3 - Here's your list of NOs for Coachella: No umbrellas, no pets, no chairs or blankets, no outside food or beverages, no video cameras, no selfie sticks, no signs, no squirt guns, no instruments and no professional cameras (the kind with a removable lens). Surprising YES items include go-pros (without poles or extensions), lighters, empty camelpacks, small beach towels and walkie-talkies. E-cigs are also okay, however no e-juice or e-liquid refills will be allowed inside the venue. 4 - Save your cell phone. When not in use, power it down or set it on airplane mode to conserve battery. Charging stations will be few and far between, and reception will be close to nonexistent, anyways. 5 - On the topic of limited reception, create obvious meeting spots and times for your group. With thousands of people roaming the grounds, chances of separation are high. Coachella-goers of years past recommend meeting at one of the festival's massive art installations that are easy to spot and less crowded than a tent. 6 - Personal hygiene doesn't have to suffer. Not entirely, at least. Bring baby wipes for quick DIY showers, hand sanitizer for germ destruction, deodorant for those long days of fist pumping, and toilet paper or at least a pack of tissues for the bathroom situation. 7 - Sunscreen will save you. Get a family-size bottle if you have to - just make sure you're well-doused in the stuff with a high SPF. Hats will also help. 8 - And while we're on the topic of sun, leave your Gucci sunnies at home. This is the place to bust out those cheap sunglasses that can get lost without you shedding a tear. 9 - A solid pair of shoes will save your feet. Sandals may seem like quintessential desert style, but be prepared for the inevitable dirt-covered, smashed toes. Consider closed-toe, hardcore battle shoes to take on all conditions. 10 - Bring along a mini first aid kit. Band-aids can serve multiple purposes - blisters, cuts and more crowd-fighting wounds. Advil is the key to surviving hangovers and long days in the sun. Eye drops are okay to bring in, as long as everything is clearly marked and in its original bottle. 11 - Carry cash for food and merchandise. There will be ATMs around the premises and some vendors may accept cards, but a little cash on you makes the whole process much easier. 12 - If you're camping, feel free to bring food, beer and more along with your gear. Glass bottles are the only restriction. Onsite campers can also load up at a food court, general store and a farmer's market. No food or drink will be allowed into the concert area. 13 - Venue gates open at 11 a.m. each day. Savvy Coachella-goers arrive early to avoid the traffic mess of getting in or later in the day when the sun has set. There will be plenty of free parking adjacent to the festival grounds. The rules state that all passengers must have a festival pass on their wrist. No overnight parking is allowed except for those with camping parking passes or an onsite camping spot. No RVs are allowed to park or camp. Out of gas? There's a station about 3.6 miles away on Monroe and the 111. 14 - After all the packing and prepping is said and done, just don't forget, lose or destroy your wristband. No ticket, to entry. 15 - For those using the shuttle system to get to their hotels, a new "Any Line, Anytime" shuttle pass is being sold. This allows for flexibility to ride from any shuttle stop to and from the festival. Shuttles run from 11 a.m. to one hour after the music ends each night. Hotels served include La Quinta Resort & Club, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort, The Saguaro, Courtyard by Marriott Palm Desert, Hilton Palm Springs and more. Find more information here. Bonus tip: Prepare for weather conditions by checking the ten-day Coachella forecast found here. Find all information at coachella.com. Source: DiscoverSD